The Democratic Republic Congo plans to honour the country’s independence hero, Patrice Lumumba, before its 61st Independence Anniversary celebrations.
Lumumba, who served as the first Prime Minister of an independent DR Congo from 24th June 1960 to 5th September 1960, was assasinated by state authorities under Mobutu Sese Keko on 17th January 1961.
On Monday, President Félix Tshisekedi said a mausoleum will be built for Lumumba. He added that Belgium will return the remains of the former PM, but did not give specifics.
The mausoleum will be built before the country celebrates its 61st independence anniversary in June 2021.
“On the sidelines of the celebration of the 61st anniversary of our independence, the country will show its gratitude to the Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba, one of the national heroes, whose relics will be repatriated and who will finally be given a tomb worthy of his sacrifice for the nation,” President Tshisekedi said.
Lumumba’s body was never found and one of his teeth is believed to be kept in Brussels by one of the people who participated in his elimination.
A court in Belgium in September said that the tooth should be given to Mr Lumumba’s daughter, Juliana Lumumba, who had written a letter to the Belgian king asking for its return, according to the Brussels Times website.
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